Chuck Colson, 1937-2012

I would like to pay tribute with this blog post to Chuck Colson.  Chuck was best known for his role in the Watergate scandal and his subsequent conversion to Christianity after being arrested for crimes in connection with the scandal.  He admitted that what he did was wrong and spoke out against corruption in government from then on until the day he died.  He said that he deserved to go to jail for what he did and was thankful to God that he was caught because he might never have come to know Jesus otherwise.

Most of the rest of what I know about Chuck comes from a book called God and Government which he authored.  The book has a little of what you might expect from a social conservative, but a lot that you might not.  He did a good job a relating how easy it is to become corrupted by power.  Besides giving his own personal testimony, he reminds us about various freedom movements around the world like the Solidarity movement in Poland, the overthrow of the Marcos government in the Philippines, and the toppling of the Soviet Union.  He talked about Dietrich Bonheoffer, a Christian who refused to give in to the government takeover of the Christian church in Nazi Germany.  He also recounted some great stories about events which lead to an easing of tensions between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland.

Like a typical socially conservative writing, he speaks out against some of the violations of the rights Christians and the erosion of morality and integrity in the government.  One example he gave was a case where a church decided to expel one of its members because of an admitted case of adultery.  The government got involved and a judge decided to force the church to take the unfaithful church member back, despite the lack of repentance.  He also opposed same-sex marriage and abortion.

Of course, I don’t agree with everything he said in the book.  For example he uses the word “Democracy” incorrectly and his interpretation of First Amendment is quite flawed.  I also strongly disagree with his embrace of preemptive war (and particularly in the case of the Iraq War).

However he didn’t completely fit the mold of a typical social conservative. 

He expressed some libertarian-leaning views in the book.  For example, he opposed three strikes laws and supported reducing or eliminating sentences for non-violent offenses (e.g. drug offenses).  He talked about how he traveled all around the world making speeches and talking to prison officials to persuade them to improve living conditions for prisoners.  He opposes the torture of prisoners of war.  This issue is not exactly first and foremost on the minds of most Christians today, but nonetheless it is an important issue and it was a great work for the Lord he did.  His efforts in this regard went hand-in-hand with his rehabilitation based prison ministry.

Another way in which he was a little different is that he believed that just because a candidate is a Christian that does not necessarily mean that that candidate is the best choice.   

And although he opposed Darwinism, he believed in the Big Bang Theory, touting it as proof of the existence of God.  This is because the Big Bang Theory includes a beginning of the universe.  The Steady State Theory was an earlier theory which had been embraced by the scientific community and did not include a beginning.

There was one quote from the book that I particularly liked.  I can’t remember it word for word but it went something like this:

There is no such thing as a government which doesn’t legislate morality.  All laws legislate someone’s idea of morality.

Rest in Peace, Chuck.

unPLANNED, the book

http://unPLANNEDthebook.com/    

If you would like to get an inside look at the abortion debate in America today unPlanned by Abby Johnson is a must read. It is a very personal account of an individual with insights on both sides of this intense life and death issue. Abby was brought up in a strong Christian home, yet ended up being the director of a godless abortion provider clinic in Bryan, Texas. The book is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs in this twenty-something woman’s life. We get a glimpse in her story, at the motivations of someone in this dreadful business, and some of the inner secrets of both sides of the abortion controversy.

Abby Johnson bares her soul, her life to the reader from her freshman year in college days until the present. Motivated by a desire to help women in crisis after she stopped at the abortion and alleged women’s health billion dollar provider, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's volunteer table on the campus of Texas A & M University, she was inspired (duped really) to join their ‘cause.’ She unknowingly and naively bonded with this deadly, deceptive and morally and ethically corrupt organization.

For nearly a decade Abby thought she was doing the right thing, serving women in crisis. She was a compassionate, caring volunteer, counselor and eventual director in the Planned Parenthood organization. Then one day she was asked to assist in an actual abortion, holding the ultrasound wand so the abortionist could end the life of a 14 or so week old baby. That was it. Watching the screen, watching the deliverate termination of a human life was the culmination of many God directed steps that Abby was to walk to arrive at her eventual decision to leave her position at Planned Parenthood.

In reading this insightful book you should come to the conclusion that Abby Johnson was a sincere, caring individual. However she was on the wrong side of the abortion fence. She knowingly or unwittingly contributed to the murder of hundreds, maybe thousands of human beings and bringing pain and misery to many women. All the time she was thinking she was helping women in crisis. She did help some, but in the larger context she hurt as many or more.

How many caring, compassionate, considerate people got sucked into this horrid pregnancy termination business? I would guess a great number. Hopefully many will see the light of truth as Abby Johnson did. Hopefully many will identify with Abby in reading this book, unPlanned, and will come over to the right side of the fence and call abortion what it is, the taking of innocent life and will want to have nothing to do with that horrific procedure.

Black Belt Patriotism, How to Reawaken America

Chuck Norris, martial arts expert, actor and patriot writes a book describing his philosophy of life, living and what for him and for America are the defining issues today. His life was affected by two major influences: (1) a Judeo-Christian belief system, which translate into practical actions and (2) conservative principles which compel activism.

Many know Chuck Norris as the movie and TV star. The TV series, Walker, Texas Ranger, for many years still plays regularly on TV in syndication. Norris currently writes a regular column for WorldNetDaily.com and other outlets. He spends a lot of his time raising and home-schooling his twin daughters.

One of his chief passions is for a program he has developed for at-risk Middle School kids, which he founded and calls KickStart. It combines instruction in the martial arts with basic character and life development. He spends a lot of his time in Texas involved in his program and hopes to take the program nationwide. Such a program is desperately needed.

You get a flavor of Norris' Black Belt Patriotism by reviewing the chapter titles of his book:

· 1 – One Nation, Divided, and Without a Clue
· 2 – Go Back to Go Forward
· 3 - Stop America’s Nightmare of Debt
· 4 – Secure and Protect our Borders
· 5 – From Here to Eternity
· 6 – Reclaim the Value of Human Life
· 7 – Call to the Millennials!
· 8 - Honor and Care for the Family
· 9 - Be Fit for the Fight
· 10 – Reawaken the American Dream

There are several very critical social and political issues covered in those ten chapters. Chapter 9 contains some very practical advice for maintaining one’s health. Norris shares some of his fitness and training ‘secrets.’

I enjoyed reading the book, which gives a glimpse into the life and beliefs of this celebrity and black belt patriot. At 69 years old his faith, his physical and spiritual fit lifestyle gives credence to his message. He surely is the kind of person kids and adults would do well to emulate, instead of some of the decadent rap music artists, sports, movie and TV stars which pollute the entertainment media today.

I recommend this book as an excellent read and as a basic reference book on key conservative and Judeo-Christian issues.

Obama Unmasked

One of the conclusions of the book, Obama Unmasked, found on page 238 is, “By removing Obama’s mask and examining the real man beneath, we see a much different person than he presents to mainstream America.” The book discusses his Marxist, his Muslim, and the influence of Black Liberation Theology on his life.

The book concludes it last chapter (16) with these words, “Few books are written in hopes of being dispensable in just a couple months – this is one of those books. Our earnest desire is to see this book remaindered on November 5, 2008, because a man named Barrack Hussein Obama has been told by voters that he’s not ready for such an important job.” Though studying and writing about this man the last year or so, I certainly hope and pray that he will not be elected tomorrow. He would be worse President than Jimmy Carter.

The media has not permitted us to see the real Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. He has hidden much of his personal life especially his involvement with Islam while living and going to school in Indonesia and living with his Muslim step-father and atheistic mother. A radical communist served as his guide. He sat under and associated with radical professors and took drugs. He will not allow us to examine anything to do with his college years. We do not have access to his thesis.

SOLD-OUT SUPPORTER OF ABORTION

An excerpt from page 211 of the book reveals his attitude on abortion:

"On the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, many Americans are clearly invested in keeping abortion legal. But few Americans with conscience believe in killing of a baby beyond the moment of birth. Obama believes it . He is the most radically left-wing member of the Senate on the sanctify of life (issue)."

This apparent champion and hero of blacks is actually the most vehement support of black genocide. Blacks represent only 14% of the population, but account for 37% of the abortions in America. Some champion. A real chump, I'd say.

CLUELESS ABOUT THE MIDDLE-AMERICA

The authors on page 89 summarize the elite Obama’s view of middle-America.

“Plain fact is, Obama knows nothing of middle-America- he has never felt their pain, or their joys. He has never known their world, not even visited it outside of scheduled campaign stops . . . Through his actions he has revealed an underlying contempt for the heartland, and thus for the country itself, Sure, his speeches are full of pretty words about the promise of America, but his actions speak a different tune . . .”

I am afraid that the promises that he has made to the middle class in middle America are shallow, empty promises made by a politician desperately seeking power. His real intent is to destroy the middle class.

FRIENDSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

The book discusses Obama’s involvement with George Soros, Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Michael Pfleger, Bernadine Dohrn, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko among others including Marilyn Katz, who works on his campaign, The book addresses friends and associates on page 139.

"No candidate for office will have a squeaky clean list of friends and associates. That’s not a fair litmus test. But when that list is far from clean, with many unsavory characters past and present, it matters. For the truest measure of a man is his choice of friends with whom he can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder and not be forced to apologize."

RACISM

The book speaks on page 150 to Obama’s racism:

“Like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson before him, Obama’s run at the Presidency is based more on the manipulation of white guilt than on substance. Sharpton and Jackon weren’t as smooth as Obama, but that kind of smoothness is only skin deep. In the end, is there any real difference between the three men?”

This is just but a brief glimpse of a book that the day after tomorrow will be out of date and irrelevant because someone other than Obama was elected President.